The westward flow of the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean scores the boundary between the states of Oregon and Washington. It cuts through the heart of the Cascade Range creating a natural passage through the mountains known as the Columbia River Gorge.

The river is busy with marine traffic for both business and pleasure. Both banks of the Columbia are lined with steel rails and the competition between the railroads is great. In part 1 of this two-part series, we covered Union Pacific's Portland Subdivision in Oregon, heading east to Hinkle Yard. Now let’s return west along the BNSF and see the gorge from the Washington side of the river.

We will begin at BNSF's hump yard at Pasco and head over 200 miles to Vancouver. You'll see heavy Powder River Basin coal trains, hot Z trains, garbage trains, manifests, Amtrak's Empire Builder, and a special visit from SP Daylight steam locomotive #4449. One breathtaking image opens after another as the photographic possibilities here are endless. Join us for Columbia River Gorge Part 2: BNSF Railway's Fallbridge Subdivision.